A novel collector 2-ethyl-2-hexenal oxime was synthesized from 2-ethyl-2-hexenal and hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The yield of oxime was 78.05% under the optimum experimental conditions. The oxime was characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectrum, mass spectrum, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. The results of ultraviolet spectrum showed that the oxime exhibited stronger reaction affinity with Cu2+ than with Ni2+ or Fe3+, etc. Infrared spectroscopic analysis implicated that the oxime bound to Cu2+ through both the C=C and C=N groups. Microflotation tests of pure malachite mineral and chalcopyrite mineral indicated that the recovery of chalcopyrite was 91.16% under the flotation condition of rougher pH 10 and collector concentration of 200 mg/L, and the recovery of malachite reached 90.56% under the flotation condition of rougher pH 11.5 and collector concentration of 250 mg/L. The results of flotation tests of sulfide-oxide copper from Dexing copper mine showed that 2-ethyl-2-hexenal oxime achieved an excellent mean concentration containing 4.52% Cu with 79.54% Cu recovery, and the Cu average recovery increased by 2.35% compared to that of butyl xanthate. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.